Strategic Partnerships Commission

The Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships Commission is made up of representatives from the nonprofit, government, and for-profit sectors. Commissioners serve two year terms and provide strategic direction and oversight of DOSP and its work.

Applications for the Commission are accepted annually at any time, with a particular recruitment focus in January and February, and new appointments are made in April.

Commission Meetings

The Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships Commission meets on the last Thursday of every other month. The public is always welcome.

Time:
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Location:
Laundry on Lawrence
2701 Lawrence Street
Denver, CO 80205

2018 Meeting Dates:
Jan 25
Mar 29
May 31
Jul 26
Sep 27
Nov 29

Commission Members

Julia Alvarez is the Executive Director of Elephant Energy, a Denver-based nonprofit that seeks to increase access to small-scale renewable energy products in rural, off-grid communities in Namibia and on the Navajo Nation. She came to this role after spending five years as a social change consultant, helping U.S. based organizations work more effectively and efficiently.

Julia received her BA in international studies from Kenyon College and her MA in international peace studies from the UN mandated University for Peace in Costa Rica. In addition to her consulting work, Julia has experience as a policy analyst in Washington, D.C. and as a facilitator of youth leadership development workshop. While Julia loves the opportunity to share sustainable light and energy with communities around the world, she is passionate about her work with the DOSP, as it helps her feel connected to the collaborative work being done locally.

Stacie Gilmore is Council Member for Denver’s 11th District. She has over two decades of successful business and community service experience, has been recognized locally and nationally, and is committed to making sure our community is represented on all issues affecting our quality of life.

Councilwoman Gilmore is a fourth generation Coloradan, born and raised in Brush, Colorado with Spanish, Mexican, and Greek heritage. She moved to Denver in 1989 and earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology and Chemistry from Metropolitan State College of Denver. As a Colorado Trust Fellow, she graduated summa cum laude from Regis University with a Master of Arts degree in Nonprofit Management.

In 1996, Councilwoman Gilmore and her husband founded the nonprofit, Environmental Learning for Kids (ELK). ELK cultivates a passion for science, leadership, and service in a diverse community of learners. In 2014, ELK was nationally recognized by the White House with the Champion of Change award for engaging and educating our youth about science and the outdoors, introducing them to careers, and supporting them during their transition from high school to college.

Benjamin Weeda is the Acting Executive Director with mpowered where he manages directs fundraising and strategic direction efforts and manages the team in charge of programs and operations.

Weeda joined the Commission for Strategic Partnerships because no nonprofit can solve the issues that society faces alone – these problems require intentional collaboration, partnership, and coordination across sectors if anyone can expect to make progress. Nonprofits find themselves at the center of these issues and the Commission on Strategic Partnerships can be the perfect partner to bring together these nonprofits with the corresponding city agency tackling the same issue and serving the same populations. Benjamin wants to make sure these connections happen and that our communities are part of the conversations in formulating the strategies, programs, and solutions that they so critically need to thrive.

Outside of work Benjamin is a father, a husband, a son, an uncle, a cousin, and a friend. He loves to be with people and experience new things – especially with family. He has a passion for cooking, music, art, talking about race issues, and education but the thing he likes to do the most is laugh!